Will The Aftermarket Hitches For A 2018 Mercedes GLE 350 Be Inferior To A Factory Mercedes Hitch

Updated 10/29/2021 | Published 10/28/2021

Products Featured in This Question

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

(14)

$289.63

ZCI Circuit Protected Vehicle Wiring Harness w/ 4-Pole Flat Trailer Connector and Installation Kit

(511)

$210.01

Draw-Tite Max-Frame Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class IV - 2"

(14)

$327.10

Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class III - 2"

(26)

$206.41

Curt Fusion Ball Mount for 2" Hitches - 2" Ball - 2-1/4" Rise - 7,500 lbs

(442)

$35.94

Question:

good morning, i have been doing research for my 2018 mercedes gle 350 that i need a tow hitch for, during this research i have come across people saying that an aftermarket hitch wont be rated as far as weight capacities as compared to a factory installed hitch cause a factory installed hitch has other reinforcements in the rear of the vehicle. i am needing a hitch to tow my boat which weighs approx 3500lbs including the trailer. your site lists the curt and drawtite hitches at 7000 lbs and 700 tongue weight. are those numbers still good when installed on a 2018 mercedes gle 350 when installed per your published installation instructions? hope that i am making sense in what i am asking. thank you

asked by: JJ P

Expert Reply:

From what I could find out, your 2018 Mercedes GLE 350 has a maximum towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. With that being said, the Curt # C13411 and the Draw-Tite # 76141 will not get all the way to your vehicle's max capacities, but will come very close. The 7,000 pound towing rating and the 700 pound tongue weight are accurate and will be what both of these hitches are rated up to. With your boat and trailer having a combined weight of 3,500 pounds, both of these will work perfectly.

However, as an alternate to these two hitches and actually the hitch I recommend, check out the Curt # C13294. The install will be a little more difficult, but this will get you to the max capacities of your 2018 GLE 350. This is rated up to 7,500 pounds towing and 750 pounds of tongue weight, but you are limited by the lowest rated component, which in this case is the 7,200 pound capacity of your vehicle. This is also an American made hitch, which is a big plus for me.

Since you mentioned towing with your 2018 GLE 350, you may also need a ball mount and ball. With the # C13294 sitting at 15" once installed and the average trailer having a 17" to 18" coupler height, the Curt Fusion Ball Mount # C45155 will make a great addition as it comes with the ball pre-installed, a pin and clip, and 2 inches of rise, keeping you nice and level.

For wiring. The Tekonsha ZCI Circuit Protected Vehicle Wiring Harness w/ 4-Pole Flat # 119250KIT will require one wire to be run up to the battery but will need no other cutting or splicing into the vehicle's wiring, so it is highly recommended. This is a very good wiring harness.

expert reply by: Lazer S

Jj P.

10/28/2021

I guess a better way of asking my question is will the way the hitches will be installed on a 2018 Mercedes’ gle350, will the installation allow the tow hitch to support the 7000#/750# that it is spec’d at? You suggested the curt c13294, is it stronger from an installation stand point then the other curt or drawtite hitches that have the extra support going back to the crossmember above the rear diff? Thank you for your time and answers.

Les D.

10/29/2021

Your vehicle will only support up to 7200 pounds. If you use the Curt # C13411 hitch you are limited to the weakest link, the Curt hitch rated for 7000 pounds. If you use the Curt # C13294 rated for 7500 pounds you are limited to the weakest link, the vehicle rated for 7200 pounds. Regarding the way one hitch is made with a cross member, it does not matter how it is made, but rather how the engineering affects with tow rating. In any case, you will be limited to the weakest link.